I am ready for a couple of warm days! The type of weather I hate the most is the continued cold like we have been having! I realize that there will be cold weather during the winter, but the kind we have been having is the kind I really hate.
On the other hand, it could have been a lot worse (ice storms etc.), but the one good thing about February is that it means we are closer to Spring and Summer!
Thursday morning, I looked out my back window and saw a number of deer (I counted 4 adults and two baby deer). I hadn't seen any deer for awhile, so I was glad to see them back. I like to watch the birds in the bird feeder. There are an amazing variety of birds.
I had been reading a biography of Abe Lincoln for a number of months (I read it daily at breakfast) and I am in withdrawal. However, I started reading a book about the period from 1815-1848 (Daniel Walker Howe, "What Hath God Wrought, the Transformation of America, 1815-1848), which is interesting and sets up the context for Lincoln's life and times. He pointed out that the telegraph "What Hath God Wrought" did not have a question mark. It was an explanation, not a question, which I found interesting. He also pointed out the essential need for transportation. He noted that, at that time, (1815), it cost as much to move an article 30 miles on land as it did 3,000 miles by the ocean! It makes me feel the Interstate system has been more important than I thought before.
Picking up Aliene today from her visit to her mother. Her "Aunt Aliene" died, and she was her mothers only living sibling, so she spent a week with her.
Another day towards Spring.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Books
An application I really like on Facebook and Linkedin is the "library" where I can indicate books I want to read, books I am reading and books I read. It is fun, although time limits me to just my current reading.
Christmas, 1989, a friend gave me abook entitled "A Book of the Days for the Literary Year". Just for fun, I starting listing on the appropriate day, any books I finished that day and the year I finished it.
This Christmas will be the 20th year and I have faithfully kept track of every book I completed. (I didn't include books I only partailly completed). I may have missed recording several, but I don't recall ever missing one and I know it isn't many.
I started thinking about getting another book to record my books (20 years is a lot of books and some of the sections are getting full!). I probably well yet, but I decided to put my list on the computer for ease of retrival etc.
I recently found out about "Google" and so I am putting the list I kept on "Google Documents". I decided to go ahead and make them public. http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pP82UfX4tSM2rCwylgDO5MQ is the link and you can check this at any time and review the books I have read! (Isn't technology amazing!)
I set it up so the spreadsheet will automatically update as I finish books. So far, I am only up to June and show approximately 340 books. I update a short amunt at a time, since it is easier to update it a little at the time.
Christmas, 1989, a friend gave me abook entitled "A Book of the Days for the Literary Year". Just for fun, I starting listing on the appropriate day, any books I finished that day and the year I finished it.
This Christmas will be the 20th year and I have faithfully kept track of every book I completed. (I didn't include books I only partailly completed). I may have missed recording several, but I don't recall ever missing one and I know it isn't many.
I started thinking about getting another book to record my books (20 years is a lot of books and some of the sections are getting full!). I probably well yet, but I decided to put my list on the computer for ease of retrival etc.
I recently found out about "Google" and so I am putting the list I kept on "Google Documents". I decided to go ahead and make them public. http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pP82UfX4tSM2rCwylgDO5MQ is the link and you can check this at any time and review the books I have read! (Isn't technology amazing!)
I set it up so the spreadsheet will automatically update as I finish books. So far, I am only up to June and show approximately 340 books. I update a short amunt at a time, since it is easier to update it a little at the time.
Aunt Aliene
Aliene's "Aunt Aliene" passed away and Aliene went up for the services and to help support her mother. Aunt Aliene was the last sibling of Aliene's mother, so it may be a difficult adjustment.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Winter continues
About this time of the winter, I always am thankful for any kind of reasonable weather each day, since I figure that is one more day of no ice or snow!
I have been enjoying my "Apple" computer and especially the "garage band", iTunes, and iPhoto programs. It is just amazing what you can do with with those programs. I am really amazed at the iPhone and the "app" that lets you have the phone to a snippet of music and the phone will then tell you the song title, the singer, even offer you a video of it on "YouTube" and how you can buy it! I'm not sure if I could understand it even if someone explained how it works to me!
Otherwise I have a lot of fun composing music (nothing worth keeping yet), making ring tones for my phone and working with photos! I wish I had more time, but perhaps it is just as good I don't!
One program Apple does have that is outstanding is that you can make an hour appointment with the Apple Store each week for "one on one" training, and the trainers really are good. We haven't had a bad one yet, and the instant help is wonderful. My frustration with computers has always been I get frustrated since there isn't any clear help on some problems. With the Apple help, I simply ask the trainer and he or she shows me how to resolve the problem.
I am currently watching the Oklahoma University/Florida game. I have to admit I am an avid OU fan, although I am also a University of Tennessee and University of Memphis fan. One thing I don't like about watching sports is the horrible sports announcers and all of the "analysis" that take a game played by a bunch of 18-21 year old kids so seriously. The announcers for this game (no one has scored yet) are especially bad. I turned the sound down so I wouldn’t have to listen to their bather.
I continue to enjoy my "15 minute per day" program where I read 15 minutes per day on a book I may not otherwise read. I just finished "Lincoln" and I think the slow approach really helped me develop a better understanding of the book. It was fascinating to watch Lincoln's life unfold.
I have been enjoying my "Apple" computer and especially the "garage band", iTunes, and iPhoto programs. It is just amazing what you can do with with those programs. I am really amazed at the iPhone and the "app" that lets you have the phone to a snippet of music and the phone will then tell you the song title, the singer, even offer you a video of it on "YouTube" and how you can buy it! I'm not sure if I could understand it even if someone explained how it works to me!
Otherwise I have a lot of fun composing music (nothing worth keeping yet), making ring tones for my phone and working with photos! I wish I had more time, but perhaps it is just as good I don't!
One program Apple does have that is outstanding is that you can make an hour appointment with the Apple Store each week for "one on one" training, and the trainers really are good. We haven't had a bad one yet, and the instant help is wonderful. My frustration with computers has always been I get frustrated since there isn't any clear help on some problems. With the Apple help, I simply ask the trainer and he or she shows me how to resolve the problem.
I am currently watching the Oklahoma University/Florida game. I have to admit I am an avid OU fan, although I am also a University of Tennessee and University of Memphis fan. One thing I don't like about watching sports is the horrible sports announcers and all of the "analysis" that take a game played by a bunch of 18-21 year old kids so seriously. The announcers for this game (no one has scored yet) are especially bad. I turned the sound down so I wouldn’t have to listen to their bather.
I continue to enjoy my "15 minute per day" program where I read 15 minutes per day on a book I may not otherwise read. I just finished "Lincoln" and I think the slow approach really helped me develop a better understanding of the book. It was fascinating to watch Lincoln's life unfold.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
2009
The New Year, 2009, is here! Usually I use the New Year to reflect on the past year and also focus on the next year and what I want to accomplish.
One fact I really like about this time of year is that I know summer is coming as the days get longer, minute by minute, even though it is only a little bit every day!
Our visit to OKC went well, although we were still glad to get back. Michelann is doing fine, thinks for everyone who asked. Eveyone is is also doing fine.
As I look to 2009, I will look at my personal goals. One very important goal is to continue (and perhaps expand) my walking and bike riding. (Actually, after not walking and biking while in OKC, the first few times will be getting readjusted to walking and biycling every morning!
Along with this, a reviw of my Christmas 2009 pictures emphasizes my continuing to look at losing weight, primarly by eating less!
Another important goal is to keep reading nonfiction that I enjoy and especially keep up the "15 minutes per day" of reading and keep learning during the year!
One fact I really like about this time of year is that I know summer is coming as the days get longer, minute by minute, even though it is only a little bit every day!
Our visit to OKC went well, although we were still glad to get back. Michelann is doing fine, thinks for everyone who asked. Eveyone is is also doing fine.
As I look to 2009, I will look at my personal goals. One very important goal is to continue (and perhaps expand) my walking and bike riding. (Actually, after not walking and biking while in OKC, the first few times will be getting readjusted to walking and biycling every morning!
Along with this, a reviw of my Christmas 2009 pictures emphasizes my continuing to look at losing weight, primarly by eating less!
Another important goal is to keep reading nonfiction that I enjoy and especially keep up the "15 minutes per day" of reading and keep learning during the year!
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